Fluorescent light fixture



Aug. 11, 1959 P. DE MAURO FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Filed Aug. 22, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. PM?! .ZJ/Vauro ATTORNEYS Aug. 11, 1959 9 P. DE MAURO v FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Pefer Dev /aura Filed Aug. 22, 1957 ATTORN EYS United States Patent FLUORESCENT LIGHT FIXTURE Peter De Mauro, Whitestone, N.Y., assignor to Globe Lighting Products, Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application August 22, 1957, Serial No. 679,727

14 Claims. (Cl. 240-,-51.11)

tained in their normally closed position by a retaining member. By merely moving the retaining members to a retracted position thereof, the diffusing members automatically swing outwardly thus permitting quick access to the lamps inside the fixture.

According to another aspect of the present invention,

the fluorescent light fixture is provided with two socket plates adjacent the end plates of the fixture. Said socket plates are of such construction as to enable them to support the light diffusing members, act as a light baffle, and constitute a housing for the wiring from the sockets to the ballast housing. i

One object of the present invention is the provision of a fluorescent light fixture of improved construction so as to permit access to the interior thereof in a quick, simple and efficient manner without necessitating the use of any tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluorescent light fixture, having a light outlet opening, the closure for which comprises two light diffusing members pivotally mounted so as to freely swing outwardly when the retaining member therefor is retracted, so as to permit access to theinterior of the light fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fluorescent light fixture socket plates of an improved conice ' 2 o Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the end plates of the fixture; Y Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the socket plates of the fixture; and I i j Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and showing a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown a fluorescent light fixture 10 provided with end plates 12, light pervious diffusing members 14 constituting the closure for the light outlet opening of the fixture, and a retaining member 16 engaging adjacent portions of'light diffusing members 14 for supportingsaid members in position to close said light outlet opening of the fixture. Said light diffusion members 14 are preferably molded of a suitable plastic but may be made of glass, and are comparatively stiff. As seen in Figure 4, retaining member 16 is movable to a retracted position whereby light diffusing members 14 are released and are free to 'swing' outwardly and downwardly under the force of gravity, away from each other, thereby automatically opening said light outlet opening of the fixture to permit access to the interior thereof, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail. v

As stated above fixture 10 is provided at each end thereof with an end plate 12. Each end plate (Fig. '6) has upper inwardly extending spaced flanges 18, each of said flanges being provided with a hole'20 for mounting the ballast housing of said fixture. End plate 12 may also be provided with a conventional knockout 22, as shown. A socket plate 24 is provided adjacent each endplate 12 of the fixture 10, and as best seen in Fig. 7, said socket plate comprises a substantially peripherally andoutwardly flanged member having an outer contour of similar con figuration as that of end plate 12 but being of slightly smaller dimension than the latter. Socket plate 24 is provided with upper outwardly extending spaced flanges 26, the upper surface of said flanges abutting the lower surface of flanges 18 of end plates 12 as best seen in Fig. 5, cut-outs 28, cars 30 having holes 32, inwardly extending horizontal tabs 34 having holes 36, and inwardly extending vertical tabs 38 having holes 40. Openings 42 are provided on said socket plate for mounting fluores struction, said socket plates having provisionfor pivotally mounting and supporting the light diffusing members, for housing the wires from the sockets to the ballast housing, and said socket plates also acting as baffles to prevent escape of the light outside of said light diffusing members.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the fluorescent light fixture according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one end portion of the fixture looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away for purposes of illustration;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

I Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 44 of Fig. 2 showing the diffusing members in open position;

. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line. 55 ofFig.3; I

cent lamp sockets, and a T-shaped recess 44 is provided centrally of said socket plate.

The ballast housing for lamp fixture 10 comprisesan inverted open bottom longitudinally extending channel 46 which is secured at each end thereofto end plate 12 and socket plate 24. Toward that end, upper wall 48 of channel 46 is provided near each end thereof with spaced holes 50 which are in alignment with holes 20 on end plates 12, and said channel is secured to said end plates by any suitable means such as threaded studs 52 and plate flanges 18, as best shown in Fig. 5.

nuts 54. As seen in Fig. 3, side walls 56 of channel 46 are in surface-to-surface relation with tabs 38 of socket plate 24, and are provided with holes 58 in alignment with holes 40 of said tabs. The side walls 56 may thus be secured to socket plate 24 by any suitable means such as threaded studs 60 and nuts 62. It will be understood that the position of holes 40 in socket plates 24, holes 20 in end plates 12, and holes 50, 58 in channel 46 are so related that when securement of said channel to said plates is effectuated the outwardly extending peripheral flanges of socket plate 24 will be in abutting relation with the inner surface of end plate 12 and the upper surface of socket plate flanges 26 will abut lower. surface of end It will be observed that legs 56 of channel 46 extendin the longitudinal direction only up to socket plate 24 while upper wall 48 of said channel extends longitudinally through the recess 44 in socket plate 24 up to the inside surface of the end plates. .Upper wall of channel 46 is a ets;

4. rus whatever 1 hhi hel 4s and. co

c onto'the channel. An inverted Ufshaped leaf spring 8 isprovided with legs 8 6 having outwardly extend ng S 38, and 90. Spring 84 biases legs 86 against side walls 56 of the ha'hh whereby low M 8 n area so and 82 or enamel 46 and cover 72. respectively. llpnrq Pi 8 sthrQhs oles ch ne Q d. y. L I 21 5?? 92 9f h Q F. S d EP I s 8 a vel ar h l t ow i P hsQO an a b r e tdl in. order o i a g r. s '9 0 from holes 8!! and 82, thereby releasing the ballast jn'g, h e rom. t i chann S d alk .4mm l' ly 366 57551 di ill. ab v 9 a l .v t n er s r nsi e t9 ia i mov Q the la th hh ns'ov 't. t w l h p r t t of 1 11 fi h itt n s. a e. s fi eh for te e s h y se i g the St qv to h hhh h h nshht r m b t d if es re 1 Ah h h Fi s: 2. and 4, e h. ck t p a 24 two pivot pins '94, saidpins being mounted in Holes 32 of ears 3Q said socket plate for supporting light members '14' as will hereinafter be described. Each of said lightdiffuserm'e'mbers 14 extends longitu ciihau at 'fixrurem between the end plates 12 thereof leaving only a'small clearance as shown at'96 in-- Fi'g. 2 saute-en the respective ends of the diffuser member and Hie-end plate adjacent thereto; 7

With reference to Fig. 4" it-vvill be seen thateach diiiu'ser inernber 14 an upper portion -14ate'rrninating 'a bearing part 15 and a rnain or body part 1411 ter nrinating in the lower straight-portion 14 which is slightly sloped outwardly of said main'pa'rt. Diffuser members 14 are freely suspended on pins- 94, upper portions 1'4fa pivot ally andslidinglyengaging the upper peripheral surface or pins, and: each of said-members is thus pivotally movable about said pins. Cutouts 28 are provided in socket plate 24 for "the movement ofpa'rts 15 of said 'di fiu'sing members during the pivotalmovement thereof.

Diffusing.members 14 are held in their normally closed position as shown in-Figs. l and; 3 by means of a V-shaped retaining member 16 which extends longitudinally of fixture 10 between the end plates thereof. Spaced brackets 98 are secured to the inner side of retaining member '16, as byweldin'g, each mounting an upwardly extending rod member 100, the uppere'nd of which has a threadedo'pening engaged by a screw 10 2 Rods 1 00 extend through 'aligned apertures 104 provided therefor in bottom wall not housing cover-72, said rods being grooved as at 106 forengagement with spring fingers 108 mounted on said housing cover for retaining member 16 in its uppermost position as shown in Figs. 1, and 5. Retaining member 16 is outwardly recessed adjacent said ro'ds as at 110. to provide. finger grips. for facilitating. retraction of 'saidretaining member. Thus it is .seen'that retaining member l imayeasily be retracted fromits upp most p t (Figs. 1 and 5) to its lowermost position (Fig. 4), spring fingers 108 retaining said member-"in the upward position, and said fingers being disengaged from groove 106 when said retaining member is pulled to the retracted position thereof. The head of screw 102 is larger than the space between spring fingers 108 and therefore limits the downward movement of said retaining member, as seen in Fi 4.

Vith retaining member 16 in its retracted position,

diiTuser-members 14. are. pivoted inwardly about pins 94 bringing the 10m portions thereof upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig, 3, and retaining member 16 is now moved to its uppermost position to engage the lower adjacent portions of diffuser members 14 and retaining the latterin fixed position between said retaining member and housing cover 72. It will be noted with reference to Fig. 3 that diffuser membe rs are in engaging relation with both retaining member 16 and ballast housing cover 72 thus preventing any vertical movement thereof so long as said retaining member remains fixed in said uppermost position. It is further apparent that retaining member 16 also acts as a light baflle to prevent the light from escaping through the space between the lower end portions of the diffuser me b rs- It ll. be. iloted ll h h p v i i i nb j s 14 is complementary to the contour of socket plates, 24 and accordingly, as best shown in Fig. 2, the flange port h s h j h s et pl t Pr de a b c n for de edges f the ifi s men' b rs n also t. as a l h hhflie o pr t th l h om s p n h q sh. he a hram 9 h hv sn h an P at s d the d f s members.

t w l. eq le th t. h le he fi t r c d. abpv s. of hh an ia l ri h lh q n h ati h, i s Wi hin th c pe. h s hv h Qn v pr de a light fixtu e Qinhqd h l h a o e de r h d t r s ut av a fet t chnfigh t th. r ferehhe o Fi fw 1 b no e h he c nfi u ati of hev xt e. is t n a rectangular. Toward that end, end plates 12, and socket pl i h. a 0 ub tan a y e an o fi ra o i h I and s i rlate a in al o r es ide h h d P a e hd qk t P at s pre ly d s ribed t; w iie t oh th. r A 6, l h di fusing members 17 have a shape complementary to that Qf a d s tke pla es, th flange o o et P a e .4 t V d iig 'h E h fQil fl l ifi l8 m 17 when e at a n h hsi gbq n h e as own.-

From the above description it will be apparent that the fluorescent light fixture of the present invention is of such construction that access to the interior of said fixture y he a i a ck. a Simple a n r thout the r u r n f y ls an i ho t the nec s ty of. nfastening any fastening devices. A h h s to h e i r f. h th l inv bid?! t rcg a e e l p t s m rel sh i ht sz rasp. he; taining member 16 at the finger grips 110 (Fig.,1)'an ld lo er ght. d l e memb r l. t t ardly, nd d y h h Pill u d a y bi s hu ar ing fluorescent lamps 66 which may then be replaced,' If desired, light diffuser members 14 may be removed for cleaning by simply disengaging theupper hookedpor'tions thereof from pins, 94. The interior of 'the ballast housing is likewise easily accessible by merely pushing pins 88 inwardly, thus enabling ballast housing cover 72 to. be readily removed. lt will, be apparent that the fixture 10 may be reassembled with equal 'ease by merely performing the above described steps in reverse order. p i

Thus'it is seen that the light fixture described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, is well adapted to accomplish the objects ofthe present invention? It willbe understood, however, that various changes may bezma'rle in the. illustrated preferred embodiment of 'the invention without departing from the. underlying idea of this invention. Accordingly I do not wish tobe supporting said light-pervious members in said closing position, said retaining member being movable to a retractable position in which said members are released from engagement therewith and move away from each other to the opening position thereof.

- 6. A fluorescent lightfixture having a light outlet opening, said fixture comprising, a longitudinally extending inverted channel for mounting ballasts for said fixture, 'a cover for said channel coextensive therewith and detachably secured thereto, a socket plate and an end plate secured to said channel at each end thereof, each of said socket plates being disposed inwardly of the adjacent end plate in parallel spaced relation therewith, lamp sockets mounted on said socket plates, the space between each of said socket plates and the adjacent end plate defining a conduit-for the wiring from said sockets to said ballasts, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light pervious members each extending longitudinally of the fixture between the end plates thereof, support means carried by said socket plates for pivotally supporting said members at the upper side portions thereof, said members being movable by gravity bias from a position in which they close said light outlet opening and in which the lower edges of said members are in confronting relation to a position in which said members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said support means and open said light outlet opening for providing access to the interior of said housing, and a retaining member carried by said channel cover and coextensive therewith and releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light pervious members for supporting said members when the latter are in the closing position thereof against said gravity biased movement; said retaining member being movable in a single downward movement to a retractable position in which said members are-released from engagement therewith and move away from each other due to said gravity bias to the opening position thereof.

7. A fluorescent light fixture having a light outlet opening, said fixture comprising, a longitudinally extending inverted channel for mounting ballasts for said fixture, a cover for said'channel coextensive therewith and detachably secured thereto, a socket plate and an end plate secured to said channel at each end thereof, each of said socket plates'being disposed inwardly of the adjacent end plate in parallel spaced relation therewith and having an outwardly extending peripheral flange abutting the inner surface of the adjacent end plate, lamp sockets mounted on said socket plates, the space between each of said socket plates and the adjacent end plate defining a conduit for the wiring from said sockets to said ballasts, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light pervious members each extending longitudinally of the fixture between the end plates thereof, support means carried by said socket plates for pivotally supporting said members at the upper side portions thereof, said members being movable from a position in which they close said light outlet opening and in which the lower edges of said members are in confronting relation to a position in which said members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said support means and open said light outlet opening for providing access-to the interior of said housing, and a retaining member carried by said channel cover and coextensive therewith and releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light pervious members for supporting said members when the latter are in the closing position thereof, said retaining member being movable to a retractable position inwhich said members are released from engagement therewith and move away from each other to the opening position thereof, said support means comprising inwardly extending pivot pins mounted at the upper corners, respectively of 'said' socket plates, and said'socket plate flanges supporting the ends of said members when the latter are in the closing position thereof. 8. A light fixture, comprising a frame having opposite end members and means associated therewith for supporting a tube-light therebewteen, and having a light outlet openinggand a light diffusion cover for said opening, said light diffusion cover comprising a pair of light permeable cover members extending between said end members and pivotally supported thereby for movement to and from closed and open positions, each of said end members being fixed and having a pair of laterally spaced bearing supports in registry with a similar pair of bearing supports on the other of said end members, and each of said cover members having curved hooked portions resting odand'pivotally supportedby one of said bearing supports of each end member and swingable thereon under gravity bias from a closed substantially horizontal position downwardly to an open substantially vertical position, and releasable means engageable with said cover members for releasably holding these members in said closed position thereof 'to prevent the gravity biased swinging movement thereof to said open position.

9. A light fixture, comprising a frame having fixed opposite end members and means associated therewith for supporting a tube-light therebetween, and having a light outlet opening, and a light diffusion cover for said opening, said light diffusion cover comprising a pair of light permeable cover members extending between said end members and pivotally supported thereby for gravity biased movement to and from closed and open positions, each of said end members having a pair of laterally spaced bearing supports in registry with a similar pair of bearing supports on the other of said end members, and each of said cover members having curved hooked portions resting on and pivotally supported by one of said bearing supports of each end member and swingable thereon from, aclosed substantially horizontal position downwardly to an open substantially vertical position, and means carried by said frame for releasably holding said cover members in said closed position thereof, against said gravity bias, said curved hooked portions being removable from said bearing supports by lifting said cover member therefrom in a single upward movement, said end members having flanges providing a backing for the ends of said cover members.

l(). A light fixture comprising, a lamp housing provided with a light outlet opening, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light diffusing members, each of said light difiusing members having its center of gravity positioned to permit gravity biased movement of said light diffusing members from a closed position to an open position, each of said light diffusing members having a curved hooked portion extending along onefside edge thereof, said housing having means for pivotally mounting each of said light diffusing members along said curved hooked portion thereof to permit said gravity biased pivotal movement of said light diffusing members from said closed position in which said light diffusing members cover said light outlet opening and in which the lower portions of each of said light diffusing members are in confronting relation to said open position in which each of said light diffusing members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said mounting means to provide access to the interior of said housing, and means carried by said housing for releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light diffu'sing members for supporting said members in said closed position thereof toprevent said gravity biased movement of said members.

11. A light fixture comprising, a lamp housing provided with a light outlet opening, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light diffusing members, each of said light diffusing members having its centerof gravity positioned to permit gravity biased movement of said light diffusing members from a closed position to an open position, said housing having means for pivotally mounting each of said light diffusing members at an upper part thereof for said gravity biased pivotal movement of said light diffusing members from said closed position in which said light difiusing members cover said light outlet opening and in which the lower portions of each of said light diffusing members are in confronting relation to said open position in which each of said light diffusing members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said mounting means to provide access to the interior of said housing, said mounting means for each of said light diffusing members comprising a pair of pivot pins extending inwardly from each end of said lamp housing and means carried by said housing for releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light diffusing members for supporting said members in said closed position thereof to prevent said gravity biased movement of said members, said last mentioned means comprising a pin mounted for vertical sliding movement in said lamp housing and having portions for engaging each of said light diffusing members at said lower portions thereof, and resilient members on said lamp housing engageable with said pin in said closed position of said light diffusing members for releasably retaining said pin in said position.

12. A light fixture comprising, a lamp housing having a light outlet opening and oppositely disposed end members, each of said end members having a flange portion, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light dilfusing members extending between said end members with the ends of each of said light diffusing members being in abutting relation with said flange portions externally thereof in the closed condition of said light fixture to prevent the escape of said light from the ends of each of said diffusing members, each of said light difiusing members having its center of gravity positioned to permit gravity biased movement of said light dilfusing members from said closed position to an open position, each of said light diffusing members having a curved hooked portion extending along one side edge thereof, said housing having means for pivotally mounting each of said light difiusing members along said curved hooked portion thereof to permit said gravity biased pivotal movement of said light diffusing members from said closed position in which said light diffusing members cover said light outlet opening and in which the lower portions of each of said light difiusing members are in confronting relation to said open position in which each of said light diffusing members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said mounting means to provide access to the interior of said housing, and means carried by said housing for releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light difiusing members for supporting said members in said closed position thereof to prevent said gravity biased movement of said members.

13. A light fixture comprising, a lamp housing provided with a light outlet opening and oppositely disposed end members, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light difiusing members extending between said end members, each of said light difiusing members having a curved hooked portion extending along one side edge thereof, each of said end members being provided with a pair of inwardly extending pins for pivotally mounting each of said light diffusing members along said curved hooked portions to permit the gravity biased pivotal movement of said light diffusing members from a closed position in which said light diiiusing members cover said light outlet opening and in which the lower portions of each of said light diffusing members are in confronting relation to an open position in which each of said light diffusing members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said pivot pins to provide access to the interior of said housing, each of said light diffusing members having its center of gravity positioned to permit said gravity biased movement of said light diffusing members on said pivot pins from said closed position to said open position, and means carried by said housing for releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light dilfusing members for supporting said members in said closed position thereof to prevent said gravity biased movement of said members.

14. A light fixture comprising, a lamp housing prm vided with a light outlet opening and oppositely disposed end members, closure means for said light outlet opening comprising a pair of light diffusing members extending between said end members, each of said light diffusing members having a curved hooked portion extending along one side edge thereof, each of said end members being provided with a pair of inwardly extending pins for pivotally mounting each of said light diffusing members along said curved hooked portions to permit the gravity biased pivotal movement of said light diffusing members from a closed position in which said light difiusing members cover said light outlet opening and in which the lower portions of each of said light diifusing members are in confronting relation to an open position in which each of said light diffusing members are laterally spaced from each other and depend from said pivot pins to provide access to the interior of said housing, each of said light diffusing members having its center of gravity positioned to permit said gravity biased movement of said light diffusing members on said pivot pins from said closed position to said open position, and means carried by said housing for releasably engaging adjacent portions of said light diffusing members for supporting said members in said closed position thereof to prevent said gravity biased movement of said members, said last mentioned means comprising a pin mounted for vertical sliding movement in said lamp housing and having portions for engaging each of said light diifusing members at said lower portions thereof, and resilient members on said lamp housing engageable with said pin in said closed position of said light difiusing members for releasably retaining said pin in said position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,327,230 Weber Aug. 17, 1943 2,488,012 Guth NOV. 15, 1949 2,529,122 Zelov Nov. 7, 1950 2,568,893 Krauthamer Sept. 25, 1951 2,694,775 Florence Nov. 16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,738 Canada June 16, 1953 

